Getting Around

There’s plenty going on in Melbourne on Australia Day and it is recommended that you leave the car at home and make the most of trains, trams and buses to get into the city and to get around between events.

Getting to events in the CBD

Public Transport

The best way to get to Australia Day celebrations is via public transport.

By Train

Catch a train to Flinders Street Station to view the Flag Raising Ceremony at the Melbourne Town Hall in Swanston Street, and the Australia Day Parade along Swanston Street and St Kilda Road.

For events in Kings Domain Gardens, catch a train to linders Street Station and walk (approximately 10-15 minutes) across Princes Bridge into St Kilda Road. The Kings Domain Gardens are on the left and the Arts Centre and National Gallery of Victoria are on the right.

All train services will be running on a Public Holiday schedule (Sunday timetable).

By Bus

Bus services into the city will operate, however, the 605 service will be diverted via Exhibition Street, Latrobe Street, Queen Street, Lonsdale Street. Outbound service will run as normal. It is expected this alteration will only affect the 10.15am & 11.40am services from Gardenvale, which are expected to arrive in the city at 11.00am & 12.25pm.

Tourist Shuttle

The Tourist Shuttle will operate, however, buses will use St Kilda Road instead of Linlithgow Ave and buses will not use stops 1 (Arts Centre) and 13 (Shrine of Remembrance). Buses will commence servicing stop 2 (St Paul’s Cathedral) from 1.30pm.

By Bike

Bike parking (unsupervised) is available in Kings Domain Gardens. Melbourne bike-share stations are found throughout the city.

By Road

Parking is available in the CBD and around the Gardens and Arts Centre Precinct. Note: road closures will be in place to facilitate the Australia Day events in the above locations.

PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING ROAD CLOSURES FOR THE AUSTRALIA DAY CELEBRATIONS IN AND AROUND KINGS DOMAIN GARDENS:7.00am Wednesday 25 January to 10.00pm Thursday 26 January – Linlithgow Avenue from Government House Drive to Linlithgow Avenue North.
12.01am Thursday 26 January to 10.00am – Birdwood Avenue will be closed from Domain Road to Dallas Brooks Drive.
4am Thursday 26 January to 1.00pm – St Kilda Road Eastern Service Lane from Princes Bridge to Anzac Avenue.
4am Thursday 26 January to 6.00pm – Birdwood Avenue from Dallas Brooks Drive to Government House Drive; St Kilda Road Eastern Service Lane from Princes. Bridge to Anzac Avenue; Anzac Avenue from St Kilda Road to Birdwood Avenue; Government House Drive from St Kilda Road to Government House.
11.00am Thursday 26 January to 1.30pm – Linlithgow Avenue North from St Kilda Rd to Alexandra Parade

Getting to Docklands

On Foot

From the city, walk via La Trobe Street, Collins Street or the Bourke Street Pedestrian Bridge from Southern Cross Station to Harbour Esplanade.

By Boat/Water

There are various ways to get to Docklands by boat. Please visit thatsmelbourne.com.au

By Road

Public parking is available throughout Docklands and arrangements will be in place to ensure smooth entry and exit for all Australia Day patrons in 2017. Reduced speed limits and road closures will be in effect on Harbour Esplanade and within the precinct. In the event of all carparks being full in precinct, emergency road closures will be put in place to keep traffic congestion to a minimum.

By Tram

Trams will operate to a Public Holiday timetable and additional services will operate to and from Docklands.

Tram 70, and 75 will be shunting at Flinders St and Footscray Rd and will NOT be running along Harbour Esplanade.
Route 86 will terminate at Waterfront City Docklands stop 11.
Trams 24, 30, 86, 95 running along Latrobe St will remain undisrupted with additional trams in the evening to assist with departure.

By Bike

Bike-share stations are on the corner of Harbour Esplanade and NewQuay Promenade and Harbour Esplanade and Victoria Harbour Promenade.

By Train

Metro Trains will be running a Public Holiday timetable, which is a 20 minute frequency across the network.

By Taxi

All taxi traffic should be directed to the existing Taxi Rank on Bourke St. between Harbour Esp. and Batman Hill Drive adjacent to Etihad Stadium.

By Bike

All cyclists will be asked to dismount if travelling along water side of Harbour Esplanade due to the large increase in foot traffic and as part of the event’s safety plan. This will be advertised with flashing message boards and static traffic management on the day.

Road closures

PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING ROAD CLOSURES FOR THE AUSTRALIA DAY CELEBRATIONS IN & AROUND DOCKLANDS:

From 5.00pm to 11.00pm Thursday 26 January Harbour Esplanade will be fully closed to all traffic.

Visiting Regions

V-Line trains run regularly on Australia Day and are a great way to get into Victoria’s regional cities and towns. Check V-Line for more information and to plan your journey.